It’s unclear when a new name will be revealed for one of the league’s oldest franchises.

USA Today, ESPN, The Washington Post, Washington Times and Sports Business Journal reported Sunday night that owner Dan Snyder is set to “retire” the name. Yahoo, on Saturday, reported a name change was imminent.

The team launched a ‘thorough review’ of the name July 3 that the NFL supported. That came in the aftermath of to change the name.

FedEx is the title sponsor of the team’s stadium in Landover, Maryland, and CEO Frederick Smith is a minority owner. Nike and other companies pulled team gear from their online stores.

Over a dozen Native American leaders and organizations

to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell last week demanding an immediate end to Washington’s use of the name. In the letter that was obtained by The Associated Press, they said they “expect the NFL to engage in a robust, meaningful reconciliation process with Native American movement leaders, tribes, and organizations to repair the decades of emotional violence and other serious harms this racist team name has caused to Native Peoples.”

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Hours after the league canceled the Hall of Fame game that kicks off the preseason, the 32 team owners on Thursday were updated on a variety of issues, many dealing with working through the coronavirus pandemic. Most notably, according to NFL general counsel Jeff Pash, the owners were told about plans to fully reopen team facilities for training camp next month.

“The clubs have been advised that training camps are expected to open on the normal schedule,” Pash said. “The dates set forth in the collective bargaining agreement, for most clubs that would be July 28. Obviously they can bring in rookies and certain other players before that.

“The preseason number of games, we’re in active discussions with the players association on those issues, and will continue at that and expect to have some resolution relatively soon and will advise the clubs at that time.”

Earlier Thursday, the league and the Pro Football Hall of Fame canceled the opening preseason game between Dallas and Pittsburgh set for Aug. 6. The hall’s induction ceremonies set for Aug. 8, and for mid-September for a special centennial class, have been moved to August 2021, when the Cowboys and Steelers will play in the game.

Team facilities were closed in late March due to the pandemic and have been reopened to limited personnel. No players other than those rehabilitating injuries are allowed at those facilities.

Dr. Allen Sills, the NFL’s chief medical officer, stressed that what the general public should be doing during the pandemic is exactly what the league and its players should be doing.

“We remain in very active discussion with the players association on the protocols dealing with testing and screening and treatment, response and travel,” Sills said. “And so we updated the ownership about where we stand with those issues and our approach to that.

“We certainly emphasized through that that testing alone is not going to be sufficient to keep everyone healthy. It’s still vitally important that everyone respect physical distancing, the use of masks when possible and overall good health habits of reporting symptoms and limiting contact with individuals that may be sick not only at the team facility, but away from the team facility.”

In response to Tom Brady and other NFL players holding private workouts even after Thom Mayer, the union’s medical officer, advised against it, Sills said:

“This is, again, a place where the NFLPA and the NFL are in the same exact place, which is we want whatever makes it the safest possible environment for all of our constituents. … Again, this is all about risk reduction and trying to mitigate risk. We know that we can’t eliminate risk. And so we will work very much hand in hand with the players association because, again, this is where everyone in that team environment is going to share the same risk. But they’ll also share the same responsibility to each other.”

Sills also noted that the league and union are looking into the use of personal protective equipment by players. That includes modifications to the helmet that may provide additional risk reduction.

“Obviously we have to think about any potential unintended consequences of that modification. So a lot of work is still being done on that,” he said.

Also:

– Barring the unlikely prospect of having full stadiums, every stadium will have seat coverings during the season in an effort to protect people in the stadium, something owners approved Thursday.

“They will provide clear separation between the players and the fans,” said Renie Anderson, the NFL’s chief revenue officer.

“Clearly, obviously, it will provide a unified look on broadcasts as well. … There’s no requirement for the clubs to integrate advertising. It’s somewhat of an added benefit if there is an opportunity there. There’s also an added opportunity to thank our front-line workers and to create brand messaging for the clubs as well.”

– If limited attendance is allowed by local governments, tickets would be distributed to long-term season ticket holders and personal seat license holders. Contingencies exist for moving games from where they can not be played safely.

“But the focus would be on playing in home stadiums, even if initially that is without fans in some stadiums,” said Peter O’Reilly, the league’s executive vice president of club business and events.

– The NFL is kicking off a voting education and registration initiative. Commissioner Roger Goodell said the league is developing programs and working with the players association, Players Coalition and other organizations such as RISE and the US Vote Foundation. The programs will focus on education, registration and activation.

The goal is for NFL players, coaches, executives and staff to register to vote, inspire others to vote and vote themselves. The NFL also will support players who have plans or programs to achieve the same in their communities.

In recent conversations with players, Goodell said voting was a subject they consistently stressed as important to them.

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COASTAL CAROLINA vs CAMPBELL
When: 2:00 PM ET, Wednesday, September 12, 2018
Where: Brooks Stadium, Conway, South Carolina

TV: 7:30 PM
LINE: -21
PREDICTION: COASTAL CAROLINA

Oddsmakers currently have the CAROLINA listed as -27 point favorites versus the CAMPBELL, while the game’s total is sitting at .

Overall Team Offense

• The Campbell Fighting Camels are ranked 0 on offense, averaging yards per game. The Fighting Camels are averaging yards rushing and yards passing so far this season.
• The Coastal Carolina Chanticleers are ranked 99 on offense, averaging 353.0 yards per game. The Chanticleers are averaging 213.5 yards rushing and 139.5 yards passing so far this season.

Home and Away

• The Campbell Fighting Camels are 1-0 at home this season, 0-0 against conference opponents and 5165-5165 against non-conference opponents.
• At home the Fighting Camels are averaging 49.0 scoring, and holding teams to 26.0 points scored on defense.
• The Coastal Carolina Chanticleers are 0-1 while on the road this season, 0-0 against conference opponents and 5165-5165 against non-conference opponents.
• On the road, the Chanticleers are averaging 15.0 scoring, and holding teams to 49.0 points scored on defense.

The post Coastal Carolina vs. Campbell 9/12/2018 Free Pick & CFB Betting Prediction appeared first on IdealCapper.

New York Jets vs. San Francisco 49ers
When: 4:05 PM ET, Sunday, December 11, 2016
Where: Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, California

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: 49ers -2.5. O/U: 43.5
PREDICTION: 49ers 20, Jets 17

Oddsmakers currently have the 49ers listed as 3-point favorites versus the Jets, while the game’s total is sitting at 43.

ABOUT THE JETS (3-9): Following his benching after completing 5-of-12 passes for 81 yards, an interception and a 30.2 rating, it seems like Fitzpatrick has played his last game for the Jets. Now, Bowles looks to save his job as New York, which still ranks fourth in the NFL defending the rush (90.3 yards a game), appeared to have quit defensively in last week’s nationally televised game. Andrew Luck threw four touchdown passes and the Colts ran up 421 yards before taking their foot off the gas early in the second half. New York is also battling a slew of injuries as center Nick Mangold is gone for the season, tackle Breno Giacomini and defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson missed practice time during the week and safety Calvin Pryor remains questionable with a concussion.

New York was a 41-10 loser in its last match at home against the Colts. They failed to cover the -1.5-point spread as favorites, while the total score of 51 sent OVER bettors to the payout window.

New York Stats:
Team record: 3-9 SU,4-7-1 ATS
Current Streak: lost 4 straight games.
NY Jets is 3-6 ATS in its last 9 games
NY Jets is 2-7 SU in its last 9 games
NY Jets is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games on the road

ABOUT THE 49ERS (1-11): Kaepernick, who began the season on the bench, is 0-8 since replacing Blaine Gabbert and didn’t complete a pass until midway through the second quarter of last week’s disaster. But, coach Chip Kelly, whose father died earlier in the week, opted to give Kaepernick the starting job again as the 49ers, like the Jets, ponder their future plans at quarterback. After recovering from a shoulder injury, running back Carlos Hyde has been solid in averaging more than 4.5 yards per carry in each of the past three games. Hyde leads the NFL’s fourth-ranked rushing offense with 686 yards.

San Francisco Stats:
Team record: 1-11 SU,2-9-1 ATS
Current Streak: lost 11 straight games.
San Francisco is 1-9-1 ATS in its last 11 games
San Francisco is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games
San Francisco is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games at home

EXTRA POINTS
1. Jets RB Matt Forte (784 yards rushing, 8 total touchdowns) could be in for a big workday against the 49ers, who rank last in the NFL defending the rush allowing 169.3 yards a game.
2. The Jets are 31st in the NFL with a minus-15 turnover mark fueled by 14 interceptions by Fitzpatrick.
3. San Francisco has won seven of the past eight games in the series, including 34-0 in their last meeting in 2012.

The post NY Jets vs. SF 49ers Odds & Prediction appeared first on IdealCapper.

Arizona Cardinals vs. Miami Dolphins
When: 1:00 PM ET, Sunday, December 11, 2016
Where: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

TV: 1 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Redskins -1. O/U: 46.5
PREDICTION: Redskins 31, Eagles 17

Oddsmakers currently have the Redskins listed as 3-point favorites versus the Eagles, while the game’s total is sitting at 47½.

ABOUT THE REDSKINS (6-5-1): Washington boasts the NFL’s second-ranked offense (418.6 yards per game) and could get a boost as Jordan Reed told reporters he feels confident he’ll play on Sunday after sitting out last week’s tilt with a Grade 3 separation of the AC joint in his left shoulder. Coach Jay Gruden wasn’t exactly on board with his stud tight end’s health report, saying he has “absolutely no idea” if Reed will play and that it could come down to Saturday afternoon or game time before a decision is made. Reed ripped the Eagles for nine catches, 129 yards and two touchdowns in a Week 16 win last season, but sat out the first encounter this season due to injury.

Washington was a 31-23 loser in its last match on the road against the Cardinals. They failed to cover the +2.5-point spread as underdogs, while the total score of 54 sent OVER bettors to the payout window.

Washington Stats:
Team record: 6-5-1 SU,8-4 ATS
Washington is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
Washington is 2-3-1 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Washington’s last 5 games

ABOUT THE EAGLES (5-7): Philadelphia’s offense has lacked sizzle of late but could receive a jolt with the expected returns of wideout Jordan Matthews (team-leading 57 receptions) and running back Ryan Mathews (seven rushing TDs). The former was able to practice on Thursday after missing his first game – college or pro – last week against the Bengals while the latter has been sidelined several weeks with an MCL sprain. A lack of potent running game has forced Wentz to average 45 pass attempts over his last six games – including 60 last week.

Philadelphia:
Team record: 5-7 SU,5-7 ATS
Current Streak: lost 3 straight games.
Philadelphia is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games
Philadelphia is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games
Philadelphia is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games at home

EXTRA POINTS
1. Washington Pro Bowl LT Trent Williams will be back on the field Sunday after serving a league-imposed four-game suspension.
2. Philadelphia has surrendered an average of 28 points during its three-game losing skid.
3. Redskins rookie RB Robert Kelley has rushed for a total of 100 yards in his last two games after totaling 291 with four touchdowns in his previous three.

The post Washington vs. Philadelphia Odds & Prediction appeared first on IdealCapper.

It will be Lynch’s first game in more than two months. He was injured in Seattle’s 39-32 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Nov. 15. The Seahawks have gone 7-1 without him, including a win last week over Minnesota in the wild card game.

Wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. and running back Jonathan Stewart are active for Carolina.

Carolina’s inactives include running backs Fozzy Whittaker and Brendan Wegher, wide receiver Brenton Bersin and Kevin Norwood, cornerback Lou Young, safety Dean Marlowe and defensive end Ryan Delaire.

Cornerback Tye Smith, running back Bryce Brown, fullback Will Tukuafu, linebacker Eric Pinkins, guards Mark Glowinski and Kristjan Sokoli and defensive tackle A.J. Francis are inactive for Seattle.

—

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL

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11:28 p.m.

Aaron Rodgers has done it again.

After winning a game against Detroit with a Hail Mary, he made another last second touchdown pass to set up a tie against Arizona Saturday night.

This time the catch was made by Jeff Janis, a little used backup forced into a key role because of injuries to Randall Cobb and Davantae Adams. Janis leaped high and somehow held on to the 41-yard pass as time ran out, making the score 20-19 Cardinals. The extra point sent the game to overtime.

Earlier in the drive, Janis kept the game alive with a 60-yard reception on fourth down and 20.

—

11:00 p.m.

The Cardinals are back in the lead after a Carson Palmer pass was deflected by Packers defensive back Damarious Randall and ended up in the arms of Michael Floyd for his second touchdown of the game.

With less than four minutes remaining, the Arizona leads the Green Bay Packers 17-13.

—

10:43 p.m.

Carson Palmer is having his worst game of the season at precisely the wrong time.

Arizona’s quarterback threw for 74 yards on 8-of-14 passing in the first half and has two interceptions in the second.

The second pick, by Damarious Randall, came in the end zone with the Cardinals trailing 13-10 in the fourth quarter.

– John Marshall reporting from Glendale, Arizona.

—

10:21 p.m.

The Cardinals answered Green Bay’s first touchdown – with a field goal.

Arizona marched 74 yards after Jeff Janis’ TD catch, but bogged down once it hit the red zone. Larry Fitzgerald was hit with an illegal block penalty and Carson Palmer missed a potential touchdown when he couldn’t get the ball to David Johnson near the goal line.

Arizona settled for Matt Catanzaro’s 28-yard field goal to pull within 13-10 late in the third quarter.

– John Marshall reporting from Glendale, Arizona.

—

10:09 p.m.

The Packers have their first lead against the Cardinals.

Jeff Janis scored on an 8-yard pass from Aaron Rodgers to put Green Bay up 13-7 after Ha Ha Clinton-Dix pulled down a jump ball for an interception on a pass by Carson Palmer. The interception was upheld upon review and Eddie Lacy broke free for a 61-yard run up the middle two plays later to set up Janis’ TD.

Clinton-Dix’s interception came after Rodgers had a pass tipped at the line of scrimmage an intercepted by Rashad Johnson.

– John Marshall reporting from Glendale, Arizona.

—

10:01 p.m.

Green Bay will be without backup cornerback Micah Hyde for the rest of the game with a hip injury.

Hyde was listed as questionable after being injured in the second quarter, but the team said he was out at the start of the third.

– John Marshall reporting from Glendale, Arizona.

—

9:41 p.m.

The Arizona Cardinals lead the Green Bay Packers 7-6 at halftime in a defense-dominated NFC divisional playoff game.

Arizona scored early on a toe-tapping catch by Michael Floyd, but its offense labored the rest of the half, finishing with 75 total yards.

The Packers were able to move the ball against the Cardinals’ defense some, but had to settle for a pair of field goals by Mason Crosby.

The game is far different than the one played by these two teams here on Dec. 27. The Cardinals ran over the Packers in that game, winning 38-8.

– John Marshall reporting from Glendale, Arizona.

—

9:23 p.m.

Green Bay will be without its top receiver the rest of the night.

Randall Cobb injured his chest on the final play of the first quarter against the Cardinals when he made a diving 51-yard catch to Arizona’s 3-yard line. The catch was negated on offsetting penalties and Cobb left the field on a cart shortly after.

The Packers said in the second quarter that he would not return.

Cobb led Green Bay with 79 catches this season, gaining 829 yards and scoring six TDs.

– John Marshall reporting from Glendale, Arizona.

—

9:04

Talk about a turn of events.

Arizona’s Patrick Peterson appeared to have returned an interception for a 100-yard touchdown early in the second quarter, but it was overturned due to a hands-to-the-face penalty on Cardinals defensive lineman Frostee Rucker.

Instead of being up 14-0, the Cardinals had a 7-3 lead after Green Bay’s Mason Crosby kicked a 28-yard field goal.

– John Marshall reporting from Glendale, Arizona.

—

8:56 p.m.

Packers receiver Randall Cobb has left Green Bay’s playoff game against Arizona on a cart after suffering a chest injury during a spectacular catch in the first quarter.

Cobb stretched out for a diving 51-yard catch to Arizona’s 3-yard line, landing hard on the turf. He was taken to the locker room on a cart and the team said his return is questionable.

The catch didn’t count, either – it was called back by offsetting penalties.

– John Marshall reporting from Glendale, Arizona.

—

8:30 p.m.

The Arizona Cardinals got on the scoreboard first against the Packers thanks to a toe-tapping catch by Michael Floyd.

Carson Palmer threw a high pass into the corner of the end zone, and Floyd snatched it over his head while getting one foot down and dragging his other foot to stay in bounds.

Arizona leads 7-0.

—

8:00 p.m.

Thanks to their 27-20 victory over the Chiefs, the Patriots are moving on to their fifth straight AFC title game. The Patriots will find out if they have another home game tomorrow evening after the Steelers play the Broncos.

If the No. 1 seed Broncos win at home, they will host the Patriots next Sunday. If the Steelers win, Pittsburgh travels to Foxborough.

—

6:55 p.m.

The New England Patriots are down a couple of linebackers against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Jamie Collins is questionable to return with a back injury, while Jerod Mayo is also questionable with a shoulder ailment.

The Patriots’ only remaining active linebackers are starter Dont’a Hightower and backups Jonathan Freeny, Darius Fleming and Dekoda Watson. Jonathan Bostic was inactive.

New England leads Kansas City 21-13 at the start of the fourth quarter.

– Dennis Waszak reporting from Foxborough, Massachusetts.

—

6:04 p.m.

The scoreboard shows it’s still close, but Tom Brady and the Patriots are in control.

New England leads Kansas City 14-6 at halftime of the AFC divisional playoff game Saturday, with the offense moving the ball efficiently and Bill Belichick’s defense holding the Chiefs out of the end zone.

Brady is 17 of 25 for 157 yards and a touchdown pass to Rob Gronkowski. Brady also has a 1-yard run for a score. New England has just seven rushed for 26 yards, but the Chiefs haven’t been able to manage much when they’ve had the ball.

Kansas City settled for two field goals by Cairo Santos and missed a prime opportunity for a touchdown shortly before halftime when the Chiefs got down to the Patriots 9. A delay-of-game penalty on third-and-9 pushed the ball back to the 14, and Alex Smith’s pass to Chris Conley fell incomplete, setting up Santos’ 32-yarder.

Smith opened the game 5 of 5 for 29 yards, but is at 10 of 21 for just 65 yards at halftime.

– Dennis Waszak reporting from Foxborough, Massachusetts.

—

5:48 p.m.

Tom Brady rushed for his sixth postseason touchdown, second in Patriots history, to give New England a 14-3 lead over Kansas City with 3:23 remaining in the first half.

The score came moments after Brady scrambled for 10 yards to get to the 1; video review upheld the ruling that he went out of bounds just short of the goal line. With center Bryan Stork back in after leaving briefly with an ankle injury and backup center David Andrews lined up as a fullback, Brady pushed forward into a pile of Chiefs for the score.

Brady is one rushing TD behind LeGarrette Blount, who has seven for the Patriots. Steve Young holds the NFL postseason record for quarterbacks with eight.

– Dennis Waszak reporting from Foxborough, Massachusetts.

—

5:45 p.m.

The referees are trying to keep this game under control, a week after the game between Cincinnati and Pittsburgh was tainted by illegal hits and penalties.

Patriots receiver and punt returner Danny Amendola was flagged for a hit on Kansas City’s Jamell Fleming midway through the second quarter. Amendola was back to receive a punt, but Fleming was covering and got under the ball at around the 4-yard line. Amendola lowered his head and leveled Fleming.

On the next drive, Dezman Moses tried to take it out on Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and was called for roughing the passer.

– Jimmy Golen reporting from Foxborough, Massachusetts.

—

5:20 p.m.

New England center Bryan Stork is questionable to return against the Kansas City Chiefs with an ankle injury.

Backup David Andrews took Stork’s place early in the second quarter.

The Patriots offensive line has been beset by injuries all season, with 12 combinations of starters during the regular season.

New England just got back left tackle Sebastian Vollmer, who missed the regular-season finale after an ankle injury against the New York Jets on Dec. 27.

– Dennis Waszak reporting from Foxborough, Massachusetts.

—

4:55 p.m.

Chandler Jones started at defensive end for the New England Patriots despite his issues off the field last weekend.

Jones’ status was uncertain for the game Saturday against Kansas City after he wandered over to a police station last Sunday, shirtless and disoriented, leaving his house reeking of burnt marijuana.

The Pro Bowl selection, who was fifth in NFL with a career-high 12 1/2 sacks, apologized to his teammates and fans on Thursday, saying he made a ”pretty stupid mistake.” He declined to elaborate on what happened, and coach Bill Belichick refused to say whether Jones would be benched for any part of the game.

The Chiefs scored a field goal on the first drive, cutting the lead to 7-3.

– Dennis Waszak reporting from Foxborough, Massachusetts.

—

4:45 p.m.

New England’s Rob Gronkowski tied Dave Casper and Vernon Davis for the most touchdown catches by a tight end in postseason history with his seventh.

Gronkowski, who was questionable to play with back and knee ailments, caught an 8-yard touchdown pass from Tom Brady on New England’s opening drive to give the Patriots an early 7-0 lead over the Kansas City Chiefs in their AFC divisional round playoff game Saturday.

Gronkowski led the Patriots with 11 TD catches during the regular season and became the only tight end in NFL history with five career 10-TD seasons.

– Dennis Waszak reporting from Foxborough, Massachusetts.

—

4:40 p.m.

NFL referees might need to work on their coin tosses in the offseason.

At the AFC division playoff game Saturday between Kansas City and New England, referee Craig Wrolstad flipped the coin, and it was tails – which the Chiefs had called.

But, Wrolstad turned to the Patriots players and said, ”You win the toss.”

One of the Kansas City players then shouted that the Chiefs had called tails – and Wrolstad quickly corrected himself. Kansas City had, indeed, won the toss and deferred the opening kickoff.

The Patriots were involved in a coin flip-related controversy in Week 16, when they lost to the Jets 26-20 in overtime. Bill Belichick told his team to kick if it won the coin toss, which it did. But there was confusion when Patriots wide receiver Matthew Slater thought New England could choose the direction in which the team could kick.

– Dennis Waszak reporting from Foxborough, Massachusetts.

—

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL

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Cincinnati cornerback Adam ”Pacman” Jones apologized Friday for claiming Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown was faking a concussion at the end of the wild-card game last Saturday night.

The Steelers, who beat the Bengals on a late field goal, ruled Brown out for their divisional matchup Sunday with Denver after the two-time All-Pro was not cleared by doctors.

Jones said in the aftermath of Cincinnati’s 18-16 loss that Brown winked at him before being helped off the field after taking a shot to the head from Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict.

Jones posted a video on Instagram late Friday afternoon in which Jones said ”I apologize sincerely. Get well.”

Also Friday, Jones was fined $28,940 for contact with an official, a foul that moved the Steelers closer for their game-winning field goal in the final seconds.

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Take the Super Bowl, for example. It wasn’t that he couldn’t win the big one, but that he didn’t win enough of them.

Yet in the span of a few short weeks, dating to his relief appearance for the Broncos on Jan. 3, the narrative about the 39-year-old’s trials and travails has shifted. The quarterback, sometimes derided as an over-prepared perfectionist and too-clever-by-half pitchman, is now portrayed as the grizzled veteran trying to coax his team to a title more on grit than talent.

Sports fans love that sort of story.

”A lot of people have looked at him the last few weeks and said, `Wow, this guy is not who I thought he was,”’ said retired receiver Brandon Stokley, a longtime favorite of Manning’s. ”It’s great for people to see who he really is. He’ll do anything to help the team.”

Manning’s entry into the regular-season finale against the Chargers conjured images we’ve seen before in sports: Willis Reed limping onto the court for Game 7 of the NBA Finals. Jack Nicklaus winning the Masters at age 46. Serena Williams making a run at the Grand Slam at 33.

The narrative changed for each star once he or she had been humbled – and grown a bit older. Reed got hurt when his team needed him most; Nicklaus was considered washed up; Williams got upset on the doorstep of a Grand Slam. Just as those stories softened, Manning’s is softening now.

”I still hear whispers of the usual, but far more of the, `Maybe we shouldn’t take this guy for granted,”’ said Sean Salisbury, the former NFL quarterback who now hosts a pair of sports talk shows. ”We’ve got to enjoy this.”

With the Broncos preparing for the Steelers on Sunday, there’s been far less discussion about Manning’s record in the playoffs (11-13), his record when it’s cold in the playoffs (0-5 under 40 degrees), his record against Tom Brady (5-11), and his arm strength (never elite, but good enough to laser a couple of 15-yard out patterns against the Chargers).

There’s been much more talk about his gift for diagnosing defenses, for getting his team into the right play and for his willingness to do anything, including be a backup, to help the Broncos win.

For sure, the Chargers game was not Manning in his prime. He threw only nine passes. Completed only five for 69 yards. But if his arm (and foot, and shoulder, and neck) isn’t what it used to be, it was clear against San Diego that his mind is still in good shape.

”You see (backup quarterback Brock Osweiler), and you can see he’s a good player,” Salisbury said. ”But after watching him, you also gain a great appreciation of Manning’s ability to keep all 11 guys on offense in sync the entire time.”

Nothing new about that. But now that he’s been humbled – now that fans have seen Mr. Perfect brought down to earth during a 17-interception season that included a four-pick debacle in a game he got pulled from in November – all that nitpicky attention to detail, those ”one-game-at-a-time” bromides he regularly delivers, the preparation he lives for, is being lauded, not scoffed at.

Some might say this is a culmination of a 12-month stretch that, at times, has felt a bit like piling on to an athlete who signed with Denver simply looking for the same things Broncos fans wanted – a few more Super Bowl titles.

After yet another playoff disappointment last January, Manning was asked to take a pay cut.

Gary Kubiak got the head-coaching job and his task – whether overtly communicated or not – was to build a new offense for the post-Manning era.

The season started and the Broncos won in spite of Manning, who finished 2015 second in the league in interceptions despite missing six games.

While sitting out, Manning bristled at reports suggesting he’d rather play elsewhere, or not play at all, than be a second-stringer. He then quietly went out and did the work of an injured backup. He threw on the side to equipment managers. He took the scout-team reps. He suited up to back up Osweiler on Jan. 3.

Around that time, a report linked him to a clinic that deals in banned human growth hormone. He angrily denied doing anything wrong and said he put in the hard work and never took shortcuts to make it back.

That brought out some raw emotion that, at many times over a career that will land him in the Hall of Fame, has felt either lacking or contrived.

All that played into this new story line.

It’s Manning playing the role of Nicklaus, or Reed, or, yes, Broncos fans, John Elway, whose very best moments came as he gimped (and helicoptered) his way to the finish line. Oh, sure, Manning’s stats are still gaudy (NFL-record 71,940 passing yards) and, in other respects, awful (“Only” one Super Bowl ring despite all the success).

But in a way, Manning’s career record has been reset to 0-0.

The days of ”Omaha! Omaha!” are nearly over, and ol’ No. 18’s ride into the sunset is underway.

”He didn’t take the easy way out and he fought his way through” the injury, Stokley said. ”He said, `I’m ready to go, and whatever you need me to do, I’m willing to do.’ It ended up being pretty cool.”

Enjoy it while it lasts.

—

AP NFL websites: http://pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL

—

Follow Eddie Pells at www.twitter.com/epells

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They didn’t have much choice this week but to arrive at some conclusion after openly coveting a return to L.A., virtually creating three lame-duck teams if they didn’t make a decision. In many ways, this answer revealed the sense of urgency.

No, there wasn’t an official deadline for a decision on whether any of the relocation submissions by the Rams, Chargers and Raiders needed to be approved.

But with the Super Bowl looming, and having dragged out the entire relocation process for so long, it came down to this week. Otherwise, the last thing the league wanted, a distraction from its 50th Super Bowl, was on the horizon.

So how did it come down to the Rams getting the OK to abandon St. Louis for a state-of-the-art facility their owner, Stan Kroenke, will build in Inglewood, California? Why were the Chargers left in a sort of limbo – don’t pack up the moving vans yet, guys? And why were the Raiders, who wanted to partner with their long-time rival Chargers on a Carson, California project, basically ignored?

”Stan lived by the old adage `no guts, no glory. He demonstrated a serious conviction with his Inglewood project,” said Marc Ganis, president of SportsCorp, a Chicago-based consulting firm, and a confidant of many owners.

”Stan did it first by getting control of the land and doing a deal. That he is a major developer and land owner, and the land was owned by Wal-Mart I suspect didn’t hurt.”

Kroenke is married to the daughter of Walmart founder Sam Walton.

”Then by partnering with Stockbridge, which owned the Hollywood Park site, and then putting together a project the owners felt had tremendous substance all along. The Carson project started well behind the Inglewood project.

”The combination of the financial resources, development experience and the extraordinary design and scope resulted in a project that was determined to be the best for the reintroduction of the NFL and the Rams to Los Angeles. The project itself and the financial commitment behind it was the difference.”

So much so that not even the recommendation of the Carson proposal by the NFL’s Los Angeles committee by a 5-1 vote wound up mattering.

A key for Kroenke’s plan was getting the more powerful owners on his side. He already had the Cowboys’ Jerry Jones in his corner, and, most significantly, Seattle’s Paul Allen encouraged the owners to choose the best project, then deal with all the other issues later.

The owners saw a few flaws in the Carson project – faults that could be fixed, but over a period of time – and almost none in the Inglewood complex.

”This was not a matter of Stan putting together a coalition,” Ganis said. ”Or of Stan having great longevity in the league. It was not a matter of him being a Machiavellian genius.

”This was a matter of Stan putting together the kind of landmark project that many in the NFL feel is necessary for L.A. and for the future of the NFL in L.A., and it being supported with tremendous wealth.”

The backing of Allen for the selection process and Jones’ support of the Inglewood project were critical, but Kroenke needed the necessary 24 votes. That came rather quickly on Tuesday as many owners recognized how iconic his plan was.

For Chargers owner Dean Spanos, the approval of Inglewood was a blow to the gut. He had high hopes after the committee’s recommendation, and looked shell-shocked after the first vote, which was 20-12 for Inglewood – about the opposite of what Spanos expected.

That the NFL provided a one-year out for the Chargers – they can partner with the Rams or be a lessee in the Inglewood stadium – places the team in a sort of limbo.

Does it pursue once more a stadium in San Diego, especially with the extra $100 million the league is offering to help in that mission? Or does it shrug its shoulders and head north, not exactly as a step-child, but certainly not as the favored son in Los Angeles?

It’s a tricky situation because of the emotions involved.

As for the Raiders, they had been viewed by some as an albatross the Chargers needed to carry to have any chance of being the first choice for L.A.

For now, unless the Chargers decline the option to join the Rams in Inglewood and they take up the same option, the Raiders seem destined to remain where they are – which is where they have said they want to be.

”My guess is they try to do a deal in Oakland with the extra $100 million available from the league,” Ganis said.

”The Raiders have repeatedly said their preference was to stay in Oakland, but they need a viable stadium plan to do so. Perhaps the extra $100 million can help make that happen with a smaller, more modest stadium without some of the more expensive features that would be needed in an L.A. stadium.”

What is most certain about the L.A. scenarios is that Kroenke is the big winner, and St. Louis the big loser.

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AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL

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